Compression indicator



May 22, 1945 v. ROBINSON 2,376,814

' coMPREssIoN INDICATOR Filed Aug. 27, 1943 Tiql- 'IN V EN TOR. leslie 7717.062325 071/ Patented May 22, 1945 `4,UN-1TED- STATES.. PATE-NT.

` CJoMPaEssIoN INDICATOR Leslie V. Robinson, Neri York, N. Y.,assig\nor to `v Robinson Aviation, Inc., New York, .'Y. f'

Application August 27, 1943, serialNo. 50.0,2'1c

(ol. 'za- 94) l `7 Claims.

. kThis invention relates to compression indicators .and .more particularly to indicators designed-to .accurately determine vthe amount ofcompression Ycaused by applying a definite load .per square inch to .any material. While my machine may be 4used in its present form or in any modification thereof for. general testing research, it is particularly adapted for the rapid routine testing of soft ,malterials such as vsponge rubber, plastic .sponge .and similar articles.l One of the objectsv of my invention .is toprovide va testing machine which-will be simple in operation but accurate in :standardizing the degree of `compressibility under a designated load.

In the accompanying drawing Figure 1 is a side elevation partly in section of a machine employing my improved device.

Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof.

Fig. 3 is a -detailed cross sectional view taken on Ithe line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

I provide a-base I which may be of any convenient size and upon which is mounted the uprights and I2 as well as the U-shaped upright I4. Each of the uprights are affixed to the base in any suitable manner. The base of the upright I2 is provided with a scale I 5 having graduations thereon I6 of any desired type. An operating handle is pivoted between the uprights I I and I2 on the pivot 2 I and has arm 22 linked at 23 to the rod 24. Mounted on the lower end of the rod 24 is -a pressure plate 25.- Likewise mounted on the rod 24 is a Weight 26. A reinforcing member 2l connects the sides of the upright |4 Frictionally mounted on the shaft 2| is an indicator having van indicating hand 3| adapted to register with the graduations I6. The indicator 30 is mounted between Washers 32 and 33 which engage the sleeve collar 34 which in turn abuts the hub 35 mounted on the operating handle 20. A knurled nut 36 is adapted to increase or decrease the friction. It will be seen that by loosening or tightening the nut 36, pressure of :the washers 32 and 33 and the pressure of the sleeve collar 34 against the hub 35 can be controlled.

It will be noted that the shaft 2| is xed in the upright I I by means of the threads 31.

Pivotally mounted at 40 is a lever 4| normally held in an upward position by the spring 42, The lever 4| has a release button 43 and a latch'member 44 adapted to engage the indicator hand 3| to hold it to the zero position.

Different size blocks 50, 5| and 52 provided with pins 53 and 54 are provided. The pins 53 hold the blocks in a rm position in the recesses 55 of the base I0, In using the device a block should be used which will place the sample to be. tested .approximately 1/8 of an inch belowy pressure plate-25 when the yhandle 20- depressed. It. will be appreciated that one ormoreroffthe .blocks .may be used to .position the-sample. Y Y r In using the device .the indicator hand -31| .is secured by thelatch 44. The handle 2|! is then 'dei `pressed as far as it will Vgo and the sample -tobe tested .S is slid lunder the` pressure pla-te.- 25.. The handle is then raised untilthe --pressune vplate just touches the sample. This can lbe `asco.Ital-ned lay-moving the sample slightly `until friction is telt. At this point the release lbutton 43 is` depressed to free the indicator hand 3| and the handle is re.- leased to allow weight 26 to carry the pressure plate 25 against the sample. The indicator hand 3| will then indicate on the scale I5 the degree e of the deflection. The handle is then depressed and the release button 43 freed so that the indicator hand 3| will be` caught by the latch, The sample is removed and another one inserted for test.

It will be appreciated Ithat any measure may be applied to scale I5, that it is desirable for the particular uses to which my device isto' be put, and that the pressure plate '25 may be of any desired size. By way of example the pressure plate may be made a square inch in area, the weight ten pounds and the graduation one-hundredth of an inch. In operation the device will then show on the scale the deflection in hundredths of an inch caused by an applied load of lten pounds per square inch. `Quite obviously the weight area or graduations may be varied to suit the particular use to which the device is to be applied.

I claim: s

1. A compression indicator including a b ase, a pair of uprights, a horizontal` pivot on said uprights, a handle member, the pivot being keyed to said handle member for unitary rocking movement therewith, a pressure plate, a Weight con-v trolling said pressure plate, said weight being connected to said handle, and indicating means frictionally mounted on said pivot.

2. A compression indicator including a base, a pair of uprights, a horizontal pivot on said uprights, a handle member, the pivot being `keyed to said handle member for unitary rocking movement therewith, a pressure plate, a Weight controlling Said pressure plate, said Weight b eing connected to said handle, and indicating means frictionally mounted on said pivot, said indicating means being normally held inactive, and means for releasing said indicating means.

3. A compression indicator including means for suspending a weighted plate above the material to beftested, said suspension means including' a horizontal pivot andahandle member, the pivoti being keyed to said handle member for unitary rocking movement therewith, a deflection indi cator frictionally mounted on said pivot, means for releasably holding said deflection indicator in an inactive position, and means for releasing said` deflection indicatorjtodetermine' the amount ofr movement of said weighted plate.

4. A compression indicator including a base, a pair of upright members on said base, a hori. zontal pivot on said uprights, a handle member, the pivot; being keyed to said handle member for unitary rocking movement therewith, a pres` sure plate suspended from said handle member,

` suspended` from a' handle member which is keyed to a horizontal pivot for'unitaryxrocking movement therewithan indicating Yhand Vfrictionally mountedjon said pivot, means'for holding` said indicating handinactive until said -plate reaches a predetermined position, and means for releasingv said indicating hand so that it may show further movement of said plate.

'6. A device for determining the amount of compression caused by applying a definite load to a predetermined area on material to be tested,

- including a pressure plate of a desired area, a

weight activating said plate, means for suspending said plate above the material to be tested, including a handle member and a horizontal pivot, said pivot being keyed to said handle member for unitary rocking movement therewith, an indicator frictionally mounted on said pivot, means for maintaining'y said indicator inactive until said pressure plate Vengages said material, additional means for releasing said indicator and said pressure plate to show the compression in the material caused thereby.

7. A device for determining the compression caused in material by the application of a predetermined weight over a predetermined area, including ka base, means on said Abase supporting a weighted plate, said means including a handle member and a horizontal pivot, said pivot being keyed to said handle member for unitary rocking movement therewith, said handle member Acon: trolling the position of said weighted'plate, an indicating hand frictionally mounted on said pivot, a latch member adapted to hold saiidindicating hand inactive until said *plate engages the materialto be tested, means for releasingsaid indicating hand to show the compression caused in said material. e V LESLIE V. ROBINSON. 

